The Obama Administration has condemned the Israeli comments about building new homes in Ramat Shlomo, leading to the absence of warmth and fuzziness in the American-Israeli relationship so characteristic of preceding American presidencies. Obama believes the only way to peace in the region is a two state solution, and that the way to achieve this is through compromise. Chances are President Obama will take a hard line with both Israel and Palestine, but for the former this may seem a pugnacious attempt to improve American standing in the Middle East, at the expense of Jewish-American relations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is hawkish when it comes to Israeli rights, but the renewed violence in the Gaza strip only underscores the need for a peaceful solution in the form of two states. If, as Obama hopes, he is able to coerce Palestine into severing their ties with Iran, the while enforcing Palestinian leaders to recognize and appreciate a Jewish state, perhaps Netanyahu will surrender certain parts of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. That’s a lot to ask for, especially from a state that harbors such large extremist groups. Some have suggested financial compensation to move Palestinians out of the area, others have scoffed at the possibility for peace at all, but for Obama, forming ties to Syria and other Middle East countries are the focus. It seems that rather than lashing out against American enemies, Obama is trying to foster pro-American sentiment within those countries by scorning pro-Israeli action.
The success of the upcoming proxy peace talks will determine not only the relationship between Israeli and Palestine, but that of Israel and America as well.
